Professional Documents
Culture Documents
www.corkhist.ie
Title: Ancient history of the Kingdom of Kerry, by Friar O'Sullivan, of Muckross Abbey, by Friar
O'Sullivan of Muckross Abbey (contd)
Author: Prendergast, F. Jarlath (ed.)
Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society, 1899, Vol. 5, No. 44,
page(s) 224234
Published by the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society
Digital file created: January 11, 2014
Your use of the JCHAS digital archive indicates that you accept the Terms and Conditions of Use,
available at http://www.corkhist.ie/info/tandc.pdf
The Cork Historical and Archaeological Society (IE148166, incorporated 1989) was founded in
1891, for the collection, preservation and diffusion of all available information regarding the past of
the City and County of Cork, and South of Ireland generally. This archive of all content of JCHAS
(from 1892 up to ten years preceding current publication) continues the original aims of the
founders in 1891. For more information visit www.corkhist.ie.
O ’Cahill, with the lands of Ragubbane only, on which the said Daniel
built a castle. Ellen MacCTarthy’s mother was Ellen Barry, daughter to
Richard Barry, of Ballinaltig, whose estate was eighteen ploughlands in
the parish of Gortroe and ten in the parish of Ballinaltig. Said Richard’s
father was a Lord Barrymore and his mother was the Earl of Desmond’s
daughter. Daniel O ’Cahill’s son was Lodawick, whose daughter was the
grandmother of Edmond Barry, late of Carrigtwohill” (of which Edmond
Barry, the present writer, another Edmond Barry, is a great-grandson.
( To be continued.)
E d ite d w it h P r e f a c e a n d N o t e s b y F. J A R L A T H P R E N D E R G A S T , O .F .M .
T H E O ’S U L L I V A N S . C U L E M A G O R T , C A P P A N A C O S S , &c.
Soon after this and the aforesaid skirmish, O ’Sullivan was obliged to
submit, having no other conditions but a protection for such of the in
habitants of the aforesaid baronies of Dunkieron, etc., as remained till
then subjects to him, and a pass for him and such of his regiment as were
th e c o m p a n ie o f F lo r e n c e M a c F in e e n , a n d th e re s t o f th a t re b e llio u s c ru e , y e
v e r y d a ie it th e y ro b b e d H a ly , w ho te lls m e y t y o u p ro m ised (as h e h e a rd F lo r e n c e
say) to b e w ith th em th e w e e k fo llo w in g , a n d to b r in g a p ie c e o f o r d n a n c e w ith
yo u from th e D in g e ll, a n d jo y n w ith th em to ta k e th e c a s te ll o f T r a ly ; b u t, a n d I
h o p e in G o d it is fa x fro m y o u r1th o u g h ts, fo r y o u th a t h a v e e v e r b e e n observed, to sta n d
u p o n y o u r re p u ta tio n in sm a lle r m a tters, I tru st w ill n o t n ow b e ta in te d w ith so fo w le
a n d o ffen siv e a c rim e to G o d a n d m a n — n o r g iv e y o u r a d v e rs a rie s y t ju s t c a u se
o f re jo ic in g , a n d ju s t w a y fo r th em to a v e n g e th e m se lv e s on y o u — n o r u s th a t a re
y o u r frie n d s, th a t ju s t c a u s e o f d is c o n te n t th a t w o u ld m a k e u s c u rs e th e d a ie th a t
e ve r w e saw y o u . B u t I c a n n o t b e lie v e a n y su c h th in g o f y o u , a n d , th e re fo re ,
w ill n o t ta k e m u ch p a in e s to p e rs u a d e y o u , k n o w in g th a t y o u w a n t n o t w it n o r
u n d e rsta n d in g e n o u g h to c o n c e iv e a n d a p p re h e n d y e d a n g e r, e tc ., e tc . . . .
C o r k , y e la st o f J u n e, 1641.
“ H e re I am se ttle d , a n d d o e in te n d to e staie, u n til th e tim e g ro w e q u ie te r,
w h ich , I h o p e in G o d , w ill b e e e re lo n g , fo r h e r e is c e r ta in e n ew es o f a m ig h tie
a rm ie p re p a rin g in E n g la n d to c o m e o v e r .”
“ T h e tro u b le s of 16 4 1,” sa y s A r c h d e a c o n R o w a n , “ w e re n o t, in th e S o u th of
Ire lan d , m a rk e d b y th e e x tre m e b a rb a r itie s w h ich c h a ra c te ris e d th em in the
N o rth . T h is p r o b a b ly a ro se fro m th e fa c t th a t a m o re fr ie n d ly re la tio n su b
sisted betw een th e tw o ra c e s in M u n s te r th a n in o th e r p a rts o f I r e la n d .” O r,
p erh ap s, b e c a u se th e sa m e fa m ilie s h a d re la tiv e s fig h tin g a t b o th sides. T h u s
C o lo n e l D a v id C ro s b e y ’s life w as sa v e d a t B a llin g a r r y b y his tw o n ep h ew s,
C o lo n e ls M a c E llig o t a n d M a c G illic u d d y , w h ose p ro p e r tie s h e a fte rw a rd s a id e d
in p a rt to re ta in fo r th em . T h e C a th o lic p a r ty c o m m e n c e d in K e r r y u n d er
P u rc e l, B a ro n o f L o u g h m o e , a d is tin g u ish e d le a d e r (w hose h e ir -g e n e r a l su bse
q u e n tly m a rrie d in to th e h o u se of K e n m a r e , a n d e n r ic h e d th a t n o b le h o u se
b y h e r v a st p ossessio n s), first ra ise d th e sta n d a rd in th e p ro v in c e . Then the
M a c C a rtie s, O ’S u lliv a n s , M a c E llig o tt, th e ju n io r b r a n c h e s o f th e h o u se o f F itz -
M a u ric e , H u ssey , o f C a s tle g r e g o r y ; M o ria rty , of C a s tle d r u m a n d of B a llin a c o u r ty
(ca lled D e rm o t O ’ D in g le y ), a n d m a n y others,- b e sid e s ou r h ero F e r r ite r , to o k
a rm s in K e r r y , th e c h ie f le a d b e in g a ssu m e d b y F lo r e n c e M a c F in e e n C a r ty , o f
C a s tle lo u g h , c o m m o n ly c a lle d “ C a p ta in S u g a n e ” ; th ese a re th e p a rtie s w h om
L a d y K e r r y c a lls “ F lo r e n c e M a c F in e e n , a n d th e re s t o f his re b e llio u s c re w .”
W e h ave, h o w ever, se e n in th e “ D e p o sitio n s o f V a u c l i e r ” th a t th e y h e ld th at
“ th e y fo u g h t fo r th e K in g ’s p re ro g a tiv e , a n d th a t w e (th e P ro testa n ts) w e re th e
re b e ls a n d traito rs . . . a n d th a t th e y h a d n o t th e lib e r ty o f th e ir r e lig io n ,”
e tc ., etc. V a u c lie r w as e x c h a n g e d fo r C a p ta in Jam es B ro w n e , b ro th e r o f S ir
V a le n tin e B row n e. L o r d K e r r y w as g o v e rn o r of th e c o u n ty a t th e c o m m e n c e
m en t o f th e in su rre c tio n , a n d c o m m itte d a rm s to P ie rs e F e r r ite r to ra is e a
co m p a n y, a n d th e n p la c e d C a p t a in T h o m a s S p r in g o ver C a s tle m a in e , fro m w hom
it w as ta k e n a fe w d a y s a fte rw a rd s b y D a n ie l M a e C a r th y , o f C a r r ig p r e h a n e .
H e h im se lf, w ith L a d y K e r r y a n d h o u seh o ld , first to o k r e fu g e in C o r k , a s a b o v e ,
a n d a fterw ard s re tired to E n g la n d , w h en c e h e n e v e r re tu rn e d . F r o m C o r k his
willing to go along with him to France. His lady, Eleanor Brown, died
before this time. H e left a son, the notable Owen Roe, etc., in the care
of his family-in-law and friends till he returned from the French service,
where he was concerned several years.
I h a v e e m p lo y e d th is g e n tle m a n , M r. H e n r y L a w r e n c e , u p o n so m e sp e c ia l
o c c a s io n s, fo r fu r th e r in g a n d a d v a n c in g C a th o lic is m , to g o to T r a le e , a n d fro m
th e n c e to C a s tle d r u m , or a t th e C a m p ; w h e re fo re , I p ra y , th e Irish a n d E n g lis h ,
n o t to m o le st or h in d e r h im in b o d y o r go o d s. G iv e n u n d e r m y h a n d th is 8th
d a y o f F e b ., 1641-2.
P ie r s e F e r r it e r .
The said Owen Roe had not the title O ’Sullivan More, as his father
lived many years after him ; neither did he enjoy any of the estate, yet
lived in great repute for generosity and good qualifications till the begin-
W h o w o u ld n o t m o u rn th e so u l of g e n e r o s ity ,
P ie r c e F e rrite r , th e v e r y eru d ite ,
T e ig e O ’C o n n o r , a n d B ish o p E g a n
W e r e h a n g e d fro m a g a llo w s on S h e e p -h ill ( F a ir h ill).
O th e rs th e y tra n sp la n te d a n d tra n sp o rte d to J a m a ic a .
C a o in e o f P i e r s e F e r r i t e r o n M a u r i c e F i t z g e r a l d , K n ig h t o f K e r r y .
M y w o e a n d m y d u ln ess, F r o m G le n F o g r a d h o f w ords
f o r e v e r a n d eve r, C a m e a m o u rn fu l w h in e,
O h ! C h ie fta in of K e r r y , A n d a ll K e r r y ’s b a n sh ee s
Is th a t d e a th sh o u ld u s sever, W e p t th e lo st G e ra ld in e .
T h a t in F la n d e r s y o u ’re coffin ed, T h e b a n sh e e s o f Y o u g h a l
F a r o u t o f m y sig h t, A n d o f s ta te ly M o g e e ly
O h ! M a u ric e , b r a v e son W e r e jo in e d in th e ir g r ie f
O f th e F lo r e n tin e K n ig h t ! B y w id e I m o k illy .
T h o u g h e n v y m a y b la c k e n C a r a h M o n a in g lo o m
B o th fo rtu n e a n d fa m e , O f d e e p so rrow a p p e a rs,
N o stain , sp ot, or sp e c k A n d a ll K in a lm e a k y ’ s
H a s it le ft on th y n am e, A b s o r b e d in to tears.
F o r w ith w o rd s of b r ig h t p ra ise , T h e p ro sp e ro u s S a x o n s
T h a t th r o u g h tim e w ill n ot fa d e , W e r e seized w ith a ffrig h t,
W a s th e n ew s of th y d e a th In T r a le e th e y p a c k e d u p ,
T o m y sad h e a r t c o n v e y e d . A n d m a d e r e a d y fo r flig h t,
W h e n I h e a rd la m e n ta tio n s F o r th ere a sh rill v o ic e
A n d sad, w a rn in g crie s A t th e d o or o f e a c h h a ll
F r o m th e b a n sh e e s o f m a n y W a s h e a rd — as th e y fa n c ie d —
B ro a d d istricts a rise . F o r e t e llin g th eir fa ll.
A in a fro m h e r c lo s e ly h id A t D in g le th e m e rc h a n ts
N e s t d id a w a k e I n te rr o r fo rso o k
T h e w o m a n of w a ilin g T h e ir sh ip s a n d th eir b u sin e ss ;
F ro m G u r’s v o ic y la k e ; T h e y tre m b le d a n d sh o o k ;
T h y v a lo u r sh ed ro u n d th ee Y o u r b o u n ty to a ll,
A h a lo o f g lo ry , T h e p ra y e r s o f th e c le r g y
A n d th e d eed s of th y sh a rp sw ord R o se u p in y o u r h a ll,
W ill lo n g liv e in story. T h e p o o r th e re w as sh e lte re d
K in g P h ilip ’s ow n w h ite h a n d A s soon as th e E a r l,
T h a t w eap o n p re sen te d , N o r r e je c te d w as th e re
In a case set w ith sTohes, T h e d is d a in e d o u tc a s t g ir l.
A n d r o y a lly scen ted . B e h o ld y o u r re w a rd !
W ith o u t e q u a l in sk ill I n th e fu ln e ss o f g r ie f,
O n th e b a c k of a steed, T h e re w a rd o f y o u r w in es,
W ith a p e d ig r e e b la zo n e d A n d y o u r m e a t a n d re lie f.
T h a t n o n e c o u ld e x ce ed , F o r th e jo y o f y o u r fe a sts
C o r r e c tly re c o rd e d T h e sad tr ib u te is p a id
A n d c a r e fu lly p e n n e d , I n th e f u ll b u rs t o f k e e n in g
A n d fu ll of p ro u d k n o w le d g e T h a t fo r th e e is m ade.
F ro m b e g in n in g to end.
W ith o u t o ste n ta tio n w as
(44) It is only “ b lo o d ” can have a banshee. Business men nowadays have something as good
as “ blood ’’— they have “ brains ” and “ brass,” by which they can compete with and enter into
the oldest families in England and Ireland. Nothing, however, in an Irishman’s estimation can
replace “ Blue Blood.”
O ’Sullivan did not enjoy any of his ancestor’s estate, but a small spot for
which he was (though in possession thereof) obliged to apply to Queen
Ann, who was graciously pleased to confer it on him, the income and
profit thereof, etc., he undeniably bestowed with much credit.
“ E n t itle d is th e K in g o f K e r r y o f th e h ill,
T o tw en ty steed s— no c a u se o f g r e a t evil'— ■
A n d th re e sco re w h ite cow s,
A n d th re e sco re c u p s .”
“ S e v e n m a ta is (clo ak s) w ith r in g c la s p s o f g o ld ,
S e v e n h o rn s fo r c a ro u s in g ,
S e v e n steed s n o t u se d to fa lte r
T o th e K in g o f th e C ia r r a ig h o f th e C o m b a t .”
S ee h isto ry o f th is fa m ily in “ H is to r y o f M u c k ro ss A b b e y , ” c. x v i. to x x . ;
O ’ D o n o v a n ’s “ B o o k o f th e R ig h ts , ” p. 76, a n d a v e r y in te re s tin g w o rk on th is
su b je ct, “ T h e K in g d o m o f K e r r y , ” b y M . R y le , D u b lin .
o v e r th e f a m ily v a u lt in M u c k ro ss A b b e y . T h is sla b is n ow o v e r th e v a u lt of
th e F a lv e y s . T h e O ’ D o n o g h u e s of th e G le n s o c c u p y th e v a u lt o f th e M a c C a r th y
M o r e , as h is d ir e c t d e s ce n d a n ts in th e fe m a le lin e . T h e a rm s sh ow u s a n I r is h
crow n su rm o u n tin g a n e a r l’s c o ro n e t ; tw o sw ords in sa lte r w ith th e p oin ts
e le v a te d . C r e s t : a d e m i lio n ra m p a n t is s u in g fro m a r a d ia n t crow n . T h e s e
a rm s d iffe r fro m th o se g iv e n in S m ith ’s “ H is to r y o f K e r r y ” : — “ A s ta g p a ssa n t
in a sh ie ld a n d u n d e r an e a r l’s c o ro n e t ; fro m B u r k e ’ s “ G e n e ra l A r m o u r y ” : “ A sta g
tr ip p a n t g u , a ttir e d a n d u n g u le d or” ; a n d still m o re fro m O ’C o n n o r s, w h ic h w e c a n
a lso g iv e th ro u g h th e g e n e r o s ity o f th e “ A rc h a e o lo g ica l S o c ie ty .” T h e s e two
g iv e n h e r e o u g h t to h a v e b e e n th e a u th e n tic a rm s o f th e fa m ily o f M a c C a r th y
M o re, fo r w e a re c e r ta in th e f a m ily m u st h a v e p la c e d th e on e u se d b y th em in
th e la s t c e n tu r y o v e r th e r e s tin g p la c e o f th eir a n ce sto rs, a n d w e c a n n o t im a g in e
h o w O ’C o n n o r , th e g r e a te s t Irish g e n e a lo g is t o f h is d a y , c o u ld h a v e p u b lish e d , in
th e y e a r 1723, w h en th e M a c C a r th y M o re ’ s d e sce n d a n ts h e ld a fo re m o st p o sitio n
in th e c o u n ty , a n y a rm s of th is illu s tr io u s fa m ily b u t th o se a c k n o w le d g e d b y th e
h e a d o f th e sep t. W e a re , h o w e ve r, in c lin e d to th in k th a t in th e six te e n th a n d
se v en te e n th c e n tu rie s th e la s t M c C a r th y M o re and th e c e le b r a te d F lo r e n c e
M a c C a r th y , h is so n -in -law , u se d th e sim p le r e sc u tc h e o n as g iv e n b y S m ith , or
th e on e in B u r k e ’s “ G e n e ra l A rm o u ry . ” T h is la tte r w as a lso th at o f M u s k e r iy ,
o f w h ich F lo r e n c e M a c C a r th y w a s th e a c k n o w le d g e d h e a d in h is tim e.
and had no estates but what acquisitions they made, yet of good note and
credit, as the O ’Mahonys, (4<i>who were descended from O gh ig M cCas
McCuirk, who was grandson to the aforesaid K in g of Munster, Cork
McLuge, who conferred on the said O gh ig ye (the) very considerable
estates in Carbry and Musgry, etc., about the same time that he, the said
Cork M cLuige, gave the estates in Desmond to the ancestors of the
O ’D o n o g h u e s lu) and Moriartys. From the said O gh ig was descended the
two O ’Mahonys, viz., the O ’Mahony of Carbry and the O ’Mahony of
Cinelmeaky. T h e O ’Mahony of Carbry was the eldest, and sometimes
called O ’Mahoona Fionn ; of his descendants was an O ’Mahony who b y
his last will made over to his eldest son, Florence, the bulk of his estates,
reserving to his other two sons, Derby and Daniel, the good estates of
Ross-Bryn, for which the said Florence, the eldest, disputed after his
father’s death, which made the two younger brothers decline their right to
said Ross-Bryn. T h e said Dermod came to Desmond, where he took
large and beneficial farms from M cCarthy More ; Daniel went to Barrett’s
country, where he took the large farms of Keelnacliny. From him are
descended the family of the O ’Mahonys called the family of Broshnah.
From the said Dermod descended a very populous family, still prosperous
both at home and abroad ; they were called O ’Mahonys of Ross-Bryn, and
by some the O ’Mahonys of Desmond. T h e y were still noted for good
sence, and several of them for noted hospitality and other good qualifica
tions, and of them were some good clergymen. O f said family was
Colonell Dermod O ’Mahony, of great note for courage and conduct in
King James the Second’s war in Ireland, as likewise was his brother Daniel,
captain in the Royal Regiment, who afterwards was knighted b y the said
King James in St. Germain’s for his remarkable behaviour in Cremona ;
and afterwards had the title of count from Lew is the Fourteenth for his
behaviour and good service in other parts of France and Spain, and par
ticularly in the battle of Almansa. His son, now in Spain, has the title,
with several other titles of honour, and his brother, Demetrio, the title of
(46)T h e O ’M a h o n y s. S e e a n a c c o u n t o f th is fa m ily in “ K e r r y R e c o r d s ,” p.
153 et seq ; “ O ’C a lla g h a n ’s Ir is h B r ig a d e ” , p p . 204 to 293 ; in “ O ’C o n n o r ’s B r i
g a d e ,” p. 245 ; “ D a lto n ’ s A r m y L i s t , ” v o l. i i . , p. 449 ; “ L a s t C o lo n e l o f th e Irish
B rig a d e ,“ p p . 56, 57 ; “ O ’H e e r in , ” p. 162 (D o n o v a n ’ s tra n sla tio n ). O u r a u th o r
shows h e re a g a in h is ig n o r a n c e o f K e r r y fa m ily h is to ry w h en h e sa y s th a t th e
O ’M ah o n y s re c e iv e d th e ir e state s in K erry fro m “ C ork M c L u ig e ,” w h erea s
n eith e r th e O ’M a h o n y s n o r th e O ’D o n o g h u e s w e re in K e r r y u n til th e m id d le o f
the e lev en th c e n tu ry , w h e n th e y w e re d r iv e n o u t of C o r k b y th e A n g lo -N o rm a n
in vasio n . S e e p re fa c e to th is “ A n c ie n t H is t o r y .”
fo r w e see th em m e n tio n e d in “ O ’H e e r in ” :
“ O ’C o n n e ll of th e sle n d e r sw ords,
O v e r th e b u sh y -fo rte d M a g o u n ih y
A h a ze l ^ re e o f b r a n c h in g rin g le ts
I n th e M u n ste r p la in of h o rse ho sts
F ro m th e M a in g w estw ard is h e r e d ita r y to t h e m .”
T h is w as lo n g b e fo re th e E n g lis h in v a sio n . “ The O ’D on oghues d ro v e th e
O ’C o n n e lls , in th e m id d le of th e e le v e n th c e n tu ry , w estw ard to I v e r a g h , w h ere
th e y w e re s e a te d a t B a lly c a r b e r y as c a s te lla n s o f th e M a c C a r th y M o r e .” —
“ O ’ D o n o v a n ’ s O ’ H e e r in ,” p. 109, N o . 596. S e e R o ss O ’C o n n e ll’ s le a r n e d n o tes
on h is fa m ily in “ L a s t C o lo n e l o f th e Irish B r ig a d e ,” a lso “ D a lto n ’s A r m y L i s t ,”
a n d O ’C a lla g h a n ’ s “ Irish B r ig a d e ,” p p . 610, 612, 634, a n d 638.
(49) T h is B ish o p O ’C o n n e ll w as su p p o sed to h a v e b e e n th e a u th o r of th e D ir g e ;
b u t th is o p in io n is n ow e x p lo d e d , a s it is c e r ta in th a t it w as w ritte n b y John
O ’C o n n e ll, a se c u la r p rie st, a n d n a tiv e of K e r r y . B ish o p O ’C o n n e ll w a s pre-
c o n ize d 12th A u g u s t, 1641. “ H e w as c o m m e n d e d b y le tte rs o f th e A rc h b is h o p o f
C a s h e l a n d th e B ish o p s o f C o r k , L im e r ic k , a n d E m ly fo r his le a r n in g , p u r ity o f
m o ra ls, in te g r it y o f life , le g itim a te a n d n o b le b irth , a n d fo r h is la b o u rs , n e a r ly
th ir t y y e a rs , in th e d io ce se o f A r d fe r t a n d A g h a d o e , w h ere h e w as v ic a r a p o sto lic . ”
T h is show s th a t th e O ’C o n n e lls, in 1641, w e re re p u te d th e n o b ility o f th e la n d .
“ D a n ie l O ’ C o n n e ll, G e n e r a l o f th e O r d e r o f th e C a p u c h in s in I r e la n d .” The
C a p u c h in s h a d n o t a G e n e ra l, o r e v e n a P r o v in c ia l, liv in g in Ire la n d a t th is tim e.
H e m a y h a v e b e e n a C o m m is s a r y o f th e G e n e ra l, fo r th e G e n e r a l a lw a y s liv e d in
R o m e . T h is c le a r ly p ro v e s th a t th e a u th o r w a s n o t a p rie st, fo r n o e d u c a te d
F r a n c is c a n c o u ld h a v e m a d e su c h a p a lp a b le m is ta k e r e g a r d in g h is ow n ord e r.
O f th e “ L e a r n e d Jesu it, M a u ric e O ’C o n n e ll,” I h a v e fo u n d n o th in g in th e
liv e s o f th e e m in e n t m e n o f th a t illu str io u s so c ie ty in Ire la n d . T h e A b b e
O ’C o n n e ll, P .P . o f K illa r n e y , a t th e e n d of th e la st c e n tu ry , w as a v e r y re m a rk a b le
m an . S e e “ L a s t C o lo n e l o f th e Irish B r ig a d e .”